Coin controlled postage marking machine



Mm'h 23, 11939. G Ah AMMANN 2,15L'Y2 l COIN CONTROLLED POSTAGE MARKING'MACHINE Filed June ll, 1934 5 Sheets-Sheet l l J, 'M

N t) M WIW INVENTOR March 28, H939. Q A AMMANN ZLYE COIN CONTROLLED-POSTAGE MARKING MACHINE Filed June ll, 1934 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Mm'ch 2%,i939?.

G. A. AMMANN 2,1!5L672 COIN CONTROLLED POSTAGE MARKING MACHINE i FiledJune ll, 1954 5 Sheecs-Sheet 5 ILA @www i March 2g, w39. G, A, AMMANN2,351,672

COIN CONTROLLED POSTAGE MARKING MACHINE Filed June ll, 1954 5Sheets-Sheet 4 {NVENTOFQ @Qwmw March 1939. G. A. AMMANN.

COIN CONTROLLED POSTAGE MARKING MACHINE Filed June ll, 1934 25C 22C 21CPatented Mar. 28, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE George A. Ammann,Riverhead, N. Y.

Application June 11, 1934, Serial No. 730,122

12 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in machines for applying postageto letters and cards,-and its leading object is to provide a machine forprinting postage symbols on letters or cards, which is controlled bycoins, and operated by the customer, so that the required amount ofpostage may be paid without buying stamps, and the payments made,registered.

Another object of the invention is to'provide a machine of this typewith a coin controlled mechanism, by means of which only the postagevalue corresponding to that of the coin or coins inserted will beaffixed to the letter or card.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a machine of thischaracter with means for shifting envelopes into printing position,which will operate on envelopes and cards of different lengths.

Another object of the invention is to providel means for locking thepostage imprinting mechanism against unlawful operation, which will bereadily released when the coin or check of thev proper size is depositedin the proper receiving slot.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a drop orreceiving hopper for the machine, which includes a movable lettercarrier, which is raised when the machine is operated to affix theproper postage symbol or meter 0 register on the envelope or othermailable article.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a signalwhich will operate only when the controlling lever is actuated the fullrequired stroke, so as to indicate to the user that the directions havebeen carried out.

With the above and other objects in view the invention consists incertain new and useful construction, combinations and arrangements ofparts, clearly described in the following specification, and fullyillustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a View in perspective, showing the machine built upon astandard letter drop box.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the machine, with one end of the enclosingcase thereof removed.

Fig. 3 is a similar view, showing the working parts in the position theyassume after operation.

Fig, i is a vertical sectional View, taken on 50 line fi-Jl of Fig. 2,looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 5 is another vertical sectional view, taken through the coinselector mechanism and the letter carrier and drop, showing the lettercarrier in its normal depressed position, and the tbl (Cl. 12M-55) coinselector mechanism in position for receiving the operating coin orcheck.

Fig.*6 is a similar view, showing the letter carrier in its raised orprinting position, and the coinselector mechanism at the end of its 5operating stroke.

l Fig. 7 is a horizontal sectional view, taken on line 1--1 of Fig. 5,looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 8 is a horizontal sectional view showing 10 the locking plate in ashifted position, with reference to the coin selector mechanism.

Fig. 9 is a rear view, partly in vertical section, with the rear wall ofthe enclosing case removed.

Fig, 10 is a vertical sectional view, taken on l5- line lil- I0 of Fig.9, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. l1 is a vertical sectional view, taken on line lI-II of Fig. 9,looking in the direction of the arrows. i

Fig. 12 is a vertical sectional view taken on line l2--l2 of Fig. 5,looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 13 is a detail horizontal sectional view, taken on line |3I3 ofFig. 5, looking in the 25 direction of the arrows.

Fig. 14 is a detail view, on an enlarged scale, of a cam.

Fig. 15 is a detail sectional view, in bottom plan, taken on line Iii-I5of Fig. 10, looking in 30 the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 16 is a plan View of the coin gate plate.

Fig. 17 is a bottom plan view of the markers.

Fig. 18 is a bottom plan view of the follower plate.

Fig. 19 is an enlarged sectional perspective view, showing the two rowsof balls for selectively operating the counters.

Fig. 20 is a vertical sectional view, showing a modified form of theinvention.

Referring to the accompanying drawings illustrating the practicalconstruction of the invention 5 designates a standard mail receptacle orbox, of the type owned and employed by the governmental post-ofllceservice, having the usual lock controlled door 6, for emptying thecontents thereof.

On this receptacle the case or housing 1 for my improved postage afxingmachine is mounted. This case is constructed with a letter drop opening8, which is controlled by a pivoted valve 9. The letter or othermailable article is deposited in this opening and falls upon thenormally downwardly inclined plate IU, which is pivotally supported atits upper end at Ill to the case.

The letters are prevented from sliding off this plate into thereceptacle 5, by means of the swinging stop or abutment I2, which is inthe form of a curved plate, and which is pivoted at I3 to the case. Theconcave side of the plate or stop I2 is presented to the letter dropopening, and when the chute plate Ill is in its normal receivingposition, the lower end of the plate I0 will engage the lower end of theabutment or stop plate I2, as shown in Fig. 5.

The chute plate I0 is equipped with a pressure pad or sub-plate I4,which is connected thereto by a plurality of spring pressed pins I5,preferably arranged at the corners of the subplate I4, as shown in Fig.15. This sub-plate I4 works through an opening I4 formed in the chuteplate I0, and is adapted to provide a yielding pad for the envelope orother mailable article.

The upper ends of the pins I5 are fixed to the chute plate I0, and eachpin carries 'a nut I5a on its lower end, by means of which the coilspring I5b, which surrounds the pin, may be adjusted. 'I'he sub-plate I4is pressed through the opening I4', shown in Fig. 5, by the action ofthe springs, which are adapted to yield when pressure is applied againstthe envelope or other mailable article disposed against the upper sideof the chute plate. The sub-plate is not shifted above the upper surfaceof the chute plate, so that it will not offer any obstruction to theletter or other mailable article deposited on the chute plate.

The chute plate acts to receive the letter or mailable article and tocarry the same upwardly to an approximately horizontal position againstthe printing rams or plungers, which are arranged in the station A, toengage the upper right hand corner of the letter or other mailablearticle disposed against the sub-plate I4. Each printing element orplunger includes the vertical rod I6, having a printing type I 1 on itslower end and a head I8 on its upper end, which is engaged by the coilspring I9, the lower end of which engages the horizontal plate 20, whichmay be a crossV bar or frame, secured to the housing or case 1.

The printing plungers are arranged in two groups, one lgroup of whichconsists of live plungers, which are movable independently of eachother. One plunger 2I carries a printing element 2I designed to impressor print the ordinal 1 on the letter or mailable article. The plungers22, 23, 24, carry the printing elements or plates 22', 23 and 24 ontheir lower ends, each of which is designed to print or impress upon theletter the ordinal 1. The printing `elements 2I, 22', 23 and 24 `arearranged in parallel order, as shown in Fig. 17, so that when all oftheprinting elements have been applied a row of four l ordinals will beimpressed, as 1111, indicating four one cent stamps. The other plunger25 of this group of iive plungers has a printing element 25 on kitslower end, to impress or print the ordinal 5, on the letter or othermailable article disposed on the chute plate. Y

A second group of printing plungers is provided, which consists of thetwo plungers 26 and 21. The lower end of the plunger 26 is equipped witha printing element or plate 26' and the plunger 21 is equipped with aprinting element or plate 21. The printing element 26 is designed toimpress the symbols S. D. indicating Special Delivery, and the printingelement 21' is designed to impress the postage symbols A. M. indicatingAir Mail. Additional plungers may be provided, so that the machine canbe adapted to any schedule of postage.

The operating mechanism includes a horizontal shaft 35, which isjournalled in the casing 1. On the outer end of this shaft the gear SIis mounted, the teeth of which are engaged by the gear segment 32, whichturns on the stub shaft 33, fixed to the end wall 34 of the casing 1.This gear segment 32 is equipped with an arm 35, formed with alongitudinal slot 33. The chute plate I0 is equipped with a stub shaftor pintle Ia, which projects through the casing or frame Wall 34, and onthis stub shaft or pintle the crank arm 31 is fixed. This crank arm isformed with a bearing 38, which receives the stub pin 39, which is fixedto the lower edge of the chute plate I0, and works through the arcuateslot 4D formed in the wall 34. This stub pin also works in the angularslot 4I formed in the slide 42, which works between the upper horizontalxed guide 43, fixed to the wall 34, and the lower horizontal vguide 44also fixed to the wall. These two guides may be formed directly on thewall or frame part 34. The slide 42 includes a horizontal arm 42a, towhich the horizontal arm 45 is connected, through the horizontal slot46, formed in the wall or frame part 34. The inner end of the arm 45 issupported by the upstanding iinger 41 on the horizontal guide 48,secured to the intermediate frame part or wall 49. This horizontal arm45 is equipped With an inking roller 50, pivoted to freely turn thereon.This roller is made of felt or other suitable absorbent material, and isrecharged with printing ink from the inverted pad 5I, which is supportedabove the chute plate I0, well above the same. When the chute plate isin the position shown in Fig. 5 the roller will be engaged with theinking pad, and when the chute plate is raise-d, to an approximatelyhorizontal position, as shown in Fig. 6, the inking roller will beshifted well past the printing plates on the depressible plungers. Inits horizontal movement from the position shown in Fig` 5 to that shownin Fig. 6 the inking roller will roll under all of the printing platesor elements and charge the same with fresh printing ink. The invertedpad is supplied with ink through the inclined tube 52, entrance to whichis controlled by the screw 53, through a tapped hole in the front of thehousing.

The operation of the printing plungers is controlled by mechanism, whichcan be operated only by the insertion of coins of denominationcorresponding to the values of the postage symbols impressed upon theletter or other mailable article.

The upper end of the housing or casing 1 is equipped with a series ofcoin chutes. 'I'he number of these chutes and their arrangementcorrespond to the number of individual printing plungers, and each chuteis arranged to receive and guide the coins in vertical order, as shownin Figs. 5 and 6. Below the coin receiving chutes 1a, 1b, 1c, 1d, 1e,1f, and 1g a sliding coin carrier 55 is arranged to work on thehorizontal guides 56 and 56a, between the Wall or frame part 34 and thewall or frame part 49. 'I'his coin carrier 55 is equipped with gearracks 51 and 53, located on the lower side thereof, and on this coincarrier the coin gate plate 59 is slidably mounted. The shaft 30 isequipped with segmental gears 59 and 60 which respectively engage thegear racks 51 and 58. When the shaft 3D is manually rocked, by means ofthe hand lever 6I, attached to the end of the shaft 3D, the two gearsegments 59 and 60 will be rocked, thus propelling the coin carrier 55,to which the gear racks 51 and 58 are fixed. The gate plate 59,beingslidable on the carrier 55, is carried with it as the coin carriermoves, but, as will be seen from Figures 5 and 6, its motion is limitedwhen the ends of the gate plate strike the casing of the machine in theforward motion, and when the gate plate strikes the head I3 in thebackward motion. manner the total travel of the gate plate is less thanthat of the coin carrier.

In order to prevent the operation of the machine when no appropriatecoin is inserted, the coin carrier is equipped with an upstanding stoppin 62, which is normally engaged by the locking plate 63, hinged at itsforward end to the housing 1, immediately below the coin chutes. Thislocking plate is formed with longitudinal side arms B3a` and 63h, whichextend over the printing plungers, and is further equipped with aconnecting cross bar 63e, located inwardly of the hinged end thereof,The body of the plate or locking device is open, so that any coin may bedropped through its receiving chute upon the coin carrier 55.

The coin carrier is formed with a series of coin slots corresponding tothe size and thickness of the operating coins or checks, and the numberthereof. One of these slots is located under one of the coin receivingchutes.

'I'he coin gate plate is formed with milled slots which exactly receivethe operating coins, and which prevent operation when the wrong coin isinserted.

When a coin is inserted in one of the coin chutes, it will drop in theslot in the carrier plate 55 in line with the chute in which the coin isinserted, against the gate plate. Due to the relative sliding movementof the gate plate on the carrier plate, the coin inserted will not bepermitted to drop through the gate plate, which is normally out `ofregistration with the carrier plate. As the operating shaft Sil isrocked the carrier plate will be shifted inwardly, moving the insertedcoin with it, and the upper circular edge of the coin will engage thecross bar 53e of the locking plate, which will be raised, thusdisengaging said cross bar from the stop pin 52 of said locking plate ormember, and permitting the coin carrier to move to the limit of itstravel. The final movement of the carrier plate or member Will move theinserted coin directly over the head of one of the printing plungers, inposition so that pressure may be applied on the coin to operate theprinting plunger directly under the plunger so engaged. This operationis affected by means of the cross pressure bar 54, one end of which ispivoted at 65. to the intermediate wall or frame part 4g, and the otherend of which is pivotally connected to the vertical rod 655, whichslides in the guide 91, fixed to the outer side of the frame wall orpart 34. This vertical rod 55 is equipped with a lateral pin 58, whichis engaged by the lateral pin 69, fixed to the side of the gear 3l, ofthe operating shaft 30. When this gear has completed the rst phase ofits motion the lateral pin 69 thereof will engage the lateral pin orshoulder E8 of the rod 6B and the pressure bar 64 will b-e depressed.

The cross pressure bar 64 is equipped with a convex shoe 64a which isdesigned to engage the block 19, which is hinged at 1l to the crosspiece or bar 12, which connects the frame parts 34 and 49 to each other.The underside of this block is equipped with a series of metal springs13, which are designed to have physical contacting engagement with thecoins, when they are disposed directly against the heads of the printingplungers. The springs are engaged by the adjusting screws 14, which arethreaded through the block 10, and which serve to secure the mosteifective bearing engagement between the springs and the coins. Theblock 1li is normally elevated slightly so that it will not be necessaryto exert great manual effort to force the coins under the block andoverthe printing plungers. When the pressure bar is depressed by the actionof the gear 3l on the vertical rod 6B the coin under the block 10 willserve to transmit any motion imparted to the block lll, by the action.of the pressure bar G4, to the printing plunger engaged by the coin,which will be depressed to force its printing element or plate againstthe envelope or mailable article, which has been elevated by the upwardmovement of the swinging chute plate, so that any postage mark of themoved or actuated printing element will be impressed directly on theenvelope or mailable article.

When the coin carrier is allowed to return to its initial position, thecoin gate plate will allow the coin to drop, as it is moved forwardlyaway from a position over the operated plunger, and the operating coinwill drop into the chute 15, and fall into the receptacle 16, which isequipped with a spring closed gate 11, so that the accumulated coins maybe released by the lever 18 into the storage receptacle 19.

The four plungers 2l, 22, 23 and 24 are equipped with arms which operatecounting mechanism, and due to the fact that one, two, three or four ofthese plungers may be operated at one time, it is necessary that adiierential operation of the counting or registering means be obtained.

For this purpose the head Zia of the plunger 2l is equipped with ahorizontal arm 2lb, which is pivcted to said head. The outer end of thisarm is provided with a pendant iinger 2 Ic, which projects into the balltrough 80, xed at its ends to the wall 34 and the wall or frame part 49.In this trough a series of hardened balls 8| are arranged to workagainst the head B2 of the horlzontal counter operating rod 83. A coilspring 84 is arranged between the head 82 and the end of the trough Sil,which forms a bearing to allow free sliding motion of the rod 83 butprevents movement of the spring. When the plunger 2l is depressed by theaction of the coin and the operation of the pressure head 54 and -theblock 10, the finger 2li:` will be forced into the trough and willdisplace the whole series of balls in the trough between itself and thehead of the rod 83, so that motion will be transmitted to this rod equalto the thickness of the finger 2Ic.

The plunger 2 is equipped with a similar lateral arm 22h, having asimilar pendant finger which works in the trough 8D, and the twoadjacent iingers are spaced apart a distance fixed by the diameter ofthe adjacent ball. The plungM er Z3 is equipped with another similarlateral arm, 23h having a terminal pendant nger for a similar purpose,and the plunger 24 is equipped with a lateral arm 2419 having anotherpendant finger.

If two of the pendant fingers are forced into the trough thedisplacement of the series of balls will be twice that of the actionobtained by the movement of one finger alone, as the fingers are ofequal thickness. If two ingers are depressed by the simultaneousoperation of two plungers,

then the rod 83 will `be shifted twice `the distance, as when it isoperated by the actuation of only a single plunger of this series offour plungers. Each of the lateral arms is pivoted to its plunger head,so that it will freely turn in the direction of displacement.

A second ball trough 85 is arranged below the ball trough 80 and aseries of similar balls 86 are disposed therein. In this ball trough thespring propelled rod 8l is arranged to slide. The balls in this troughare displaced by the pendant lingers e, carried by the plunger 25, thependant finger 26e, carried by the plunger 26, and the pendant nger 27C,carried by the plunger 2l. These ngers are formed on lateral armspivoted to the heads of the respective plungers, in the mannerillustrated with reference to the plungers 2|, 22, 23 and 24. Thelateral finger 25c and the lateral linger 26C are approximately equal inthickness, and intended to actuate the rod 8l to operate the counter toregister ve cents; while the nger 21e is made twice as thick as eitherof the fingers 25e or 26o, so that the rod 81 will be shifted asuflicient distance to register ten cents.

The particular operating mechanism between the shiftable rods and thecounters or register 88 and 89 will be explained later.

The inner end of the shaft is equipped with a cam arm 30o, whichprojects upwardly to engage the pendant roller 90 on the sleeve or tube9|, which is shiftable on the horizontal rod or shaft 92, fixed orsupported between the frame part 49 and 93. This tube or sleeve ispropelled along the shaft or rod by means of the expansion coil spring94, mounted on said shaft. On the sleeve or tube 9| the pusher rod 95 ispivoted at its upper end, so that the lower end will project v into themail drop or chute directly over the chute plate I0. The upper end ofthe pusher rod has pivotal engagement with the stub shaft 96, carried bythe housing 1. When the cam arm 30e is swung against the roller 90, thesleeve 9| will be shifted a short distance, but due to the leverageaction of the rod 95 the lower end thereof will developa long sweepingstroke against the end of any envelope or mailable article disposed onthe chute plate I0.

As a result of this arrangement any mailable article will be forcedagainst the end of the drop so that it will register with the printingplungers, and the plunger selected will impress the postage mark desiredupon it. When the cam arm returns to its original position the coilspring 94 will return the tube to its initial position, and therebyreturn the lower end of the pusher rod 95 to the far end of the maildrop chute.

When the chute plate I0 isswung to printing position, the abutment platel2 will be locked by the latch 98 in an open position, as shown in Fig.6. This results from the fact that the end of the chute plate has asliding action against the abutment or stop plate, as it swingsupwardly, and when the chute and printing plate reach a position againstthe printing plungers, the abutment or stop plate or curtain will beswung into line with the end of the latch 98, and will be retained inlatched position, as the chute and printing plate I0 returns to itsinitial letter receiving position. When this takes place the latch 98will be depressed, thus releasing the abutment or stop plate which willbe moved to closing position, by the action of the spring air-check 99,which will delay this closing movement suiiiciently to allow the letteror mailable article, as a card, to fall from the chute plate through thedischarge opening into the mail box or receptacle 5.

The underside of the chute plate I0 is equipped with a spring hook |00,which is designed to snap over the bevelled upper end of the bell hammerlever |0|, which is pivoted at |02 to the housing '1. This lever isengaged by a pull spring IOIa., and is adapted to strike against thebell or audible signal |03. When the operating lever on the shaft 30 isswung to the full length of its stroke, and the chute plate I0 is raisedto an approximately horizontal position against the printing plungers,the spring hook |00 will disengage from the bell hammer and the pullspring will actuate the hammer to cause it to engage the bell or audiblesignal, thus indicating to the operator that the machine has beenproperly operated.

In order to prevent illegal coins or checks from being used, a returnhopper |04 is arranged immediately under the coin receiving chutes.Should the coin be underslzed it will drop through the coin carrierplate and the gate plate into the return hopper |04, and the customermay regain the coin thus returned through the opening |05, which isnever closed.

The coins which are accepted by the machine are observable through thecoin receptacle window 16a, which is made of transparent glass, so thatthe public canexamine the last coin used for operating the machine, orthe last group of coins employed for operating the machine.

Each time the machine is operated the spring closed gate ll will beopened vby the action of the lateral rod or arm 11a, which is carried bythe gear segment 60, which engages the lever 18 when the shaft 30 rocksthe gear segment 60 to shift the coin carrier inwardly over theplungers.

The lower end of the mail pusher rod works through a slot `l |0a formedin the shiftable chute plate I0, so that it will always have strikingengagement with the edge of any card or letter, as shown in Fig. l1,instead of riding over the top of the same. The pusher .rod may be madeof a coil spring, closely wound, so that it can bend if the letter orcard, or other mailable article is very long.

When the chute plate |0 has been swung to printing position and themailable article is thicker than the average letter, the sub-plate willyield, due to the spring posts which connect the same to the chuteplate, so that excessive pressure will not be developed on the activeprinting plungers.

The machine may be operated by a single cent, when the proper legal coinis inserted in the proper receiving chute. The coil will drop into oneof the slots of the carrier plate, and the lever can be shifted asullicient distance to bring the upper edge of the coin into engagementwith the cross bar of the locking plate or member, thus releasing thecoin carrier for forward movement. If more than one coin is inserted theaction will be the same. Any one proper coin will release the coincarrier and permit the full operation of the machine, but the value ofthe postage marked on the envelope or other mailable article will dependupon the number of coins inserted in their separate and proper receivingchutes.

If a card or envelope is to be mailed with one cent postage, only onecent is inserted in one of the penny coin chutes. If two cent postage isdesired, then two pennies are inserted in separate penny chutes. Ifthree cent postage is wanted, then three pennies are inserted in threedifferent penny chutes. If four cent postage is desired then fourpennies are inserted in four different penny chutes. If iive centpostage is to be marked on the letter or card, then a live cent piece,or nickel', is inserted in the single chute for this purpose. If 4aspecial delivery postal marking is to be affixed, a ten centpiece isinserted in the chute for this purpose, and a ten cent piece will alsooperate the machine and the proper printing plunger when inserted in thechute marked A. lVI. or Air Mail. If the proper coins are inserted inall receiving chutes at the same time, then all printing plungers may beoperated at o-ne time.

The mechanism is such that no printing plunger can be operated toimpress its postage mark on a mailable article, unless the properoperating coin has been properly inserted and moved above the plunger.

Additional printing plungers may be provided, to app-ly higher ordifferent postage markings. In this case an additional coinreceivingchute would be provided for each extra plunger' and the coin carrier andcoin gate would be provided each with a slot to receive the coinrequired to operate the plunger.

The sub-plate I4 is constructed ofV base metal, or a lead alloy, andfaced on the upper side with a yielding rubber plate or sheet, so thatit will have the necessary silent and cushioning properties. Y

When the next succeeding customer inserts a coin or coins in the machineand operates the controlling lever, any coin or coins remaining in thereceptacle 'I6 will be dumped into the storage receptacle 19, by thedownward movement or the lateral pin Tia, which is secured to the innergear segment. This pin engages the trip lever which operates the springgate of the receptacle 16.

In Fig. 20 I show a modified construction, wherein the valve IIII of theletter drop III is provided With a small lug I Ict, which is engaged bythe end ||2 of a lever pivoted at H4, to provide a short arm ||5 and along arm H6. 'Ihe long arm IIB is pivotally connected to the link II'I,which is pivoted at its lower end to the latch bar H8, which is actedupon by the leaf spring IIS. The end of this latch bar is formed orprovided with a latch element II8a, which engages the lower end of theabutment or stop plate I, which is hinged at its upper end and which isformed with a concave inner iace, against which the chute and printingplate I 2| is adapted to ride. The stop plate |20 is provided with ashort i arm |20a, which is engaged by a pull spring |2017; secured inplace to the housing 'Ia` at one end, so that when the latch bar ||8 isdepressed the spring |2617 will pull the stop plate |26 from normal openposition to closed or retaining position, against the lower end of thechute and printing plate |2I.

The short arm ||5 of the lever I i3 is pivotally connected to the lowerend of the short link |22, which is carried by the vertical rod |23. Theupper end of this rod is pivotally connected to the arm |24 of the lever|25, the other arm of which projects into the path of the coin receivingchute |26. This arm |24 may be provided With a terminal cross piece |21to be engaged by any coin or check inserted in any coin receiving chute.'I'he arm |24 of the lever is provided with a lug |2411, Which isdesigned to engage the coin carrier |28, and prevent its operation,unless a coin has been inserted in the chute, or any other chute.

On the insertion of a coin in any chute the lever |25 will be rocked, sothat the arm |24 lwill be raised, thereby raising the vertical rod |23,and elevating the short arm ||5 of the release lever H3, so that thedrop valve |I0 may be opened. The approximate instant that the dropvalve is released by the rocking of the lever I I3, the stop plate willbe released, so that the pull spring |2012 will pull the stop plate |20into letter retaining position, so that the chute plate I0 can beelevated by the action of the operating lever to an approximatehorizontal position, against the printing elements on the plunger's. Themachine would be constructed With reference to the other features ofconstruction, as previously described, and would operate as previouslydescribed., except that in the showing of Fig. 20, no letter could beadmitted to the machine, except on the insertion of a coin; and no Wastepapers could be dropped into the chute, except by the insertion of acoin. This Would virtually prevent boys and othermischief makers abusingthe machine.

I claim as new: A

1. A machine for marking postage on mailable articles, consisting ofaseries of printing plungers, a coin receiver arranged to receive aplurality or coins edgewise shiftable into registration with theplungers, a locking device for preventing unauthorized movement of thereceiver adapted to be actuated by any coin, means for guiding coins tothe receiver so that they are received edgewise, and means for applyingpressure on the coins in the receiver when the receiver is inregistration with the printing plungers to actuate any printing plungersengaged thereby.

2. A machine for marking postage on mailable articles, consisting of thecombination set forth in claim l, including means for releasing thecoins from the receiver after operation of the printing plungers.

3. A machine for marking postage on mailable articles consisting of aprinting element, a single mail carrier adapted to receive said articleand move the same toposition to be printed b=y said printing element, acoin carrier for moving coins from a receiving position to a position inline with said printing element, means for engaging said coins to movethe same against said printing elements to cause the same to printpostage markings upon the articles and means releasable by the insertionof a coin for locking said coin carrier against movement and means forreleasing the coin from the coin carrier after actuating the printingelement.

4. A machine for marking postage on mailable articles, consisting of aswinging mail carrier, a coin carrier, means for locking the coincarrier against movement which is released by the insertion of a coin inthe coin carrier, a series of printing elements arranged to be operatedwhen coins are inserted in the coin carrier, a pressure bar for engagingsuch coins to operate the printing elements, and mechanism for operatingthe mail carrier and coin carrier and the pressure bar in timed relationto each other.

5. A machine for marking mail With postage of diierent values,consisting of a series; of independent printing elements, coin carriermeans for moving coins of different values into line with the elementswith the edges of the coins presented to the printing elements, apressure bar for depressing the coins against the printing elements, andmeans for operating the coin carrier and the pressure bar to printpostage: of different Values on mail disposed against the printingelements.

6. The combination set forth in claim 5, in-

cluding a mail receiver shiftable against the printing elements on theoperation of the said y last means.

f7. A machine for marking mail with postage, consisting of a series ofprinting elements for producing different postage markings, means forpresenting coins of diiierent values edgewise to the elements, a mailreceiver movable against the printing elements, a pressure bar forapplying pressure on the coins to actuate printing elements engagedthereby, and means for operating the receiver and the pressure bar insynchronism.

8. The combination set forth in claim 7, including a lever for operatingthe receiver and pressure bar and gear mechanism operated by the leverfor causing the receiver and the pressure bar to work in synchronism.

9. A coin controlled mechanism for marking postage, consisting of meansfor marking various postage values on mail, a coin receiver havingdifferent coin holders in which coins of different value may be insertedcorresponding to the values of the postage markings and means foroperating the coin receiver to move such coins into registration withthe marking means and for forcing theA coin against the marking means toproduce postage marks on mail corresponding to the values of. the coinsinserted in said coin receiver.

10. A mechanism for marking mail consisting of selective means formarking different postal values on mail, means for moving coins inedgewise relation to said selective marking means, means for operatingthe marking means through the medium of coins carried by said movingmeans, and means for moving mail against the markers.

11. A mechanism for marking mail consisting of selective means formarking different postal values, a coin holder constructed to presentcoins in edgewise relation to the marking means, means for moving mailagainst the markers, and means operated by said mail moving means foractuating the marking means through the medium of the coins on saidholder.

12. A mechanism for marking mail consisting of a series of mail markers,a coin carrier having slots in which different c'oins are presented inedgewise relation to the mail markers, means for shifting the coincarrier into registration with the mail markers, a plunger movableagainst coins in the coin carrier to cause the coins when disposed overthe markers to operate the mail markers, a mail carrier, and mechanismfor simultaneously operating the plunger and the mail carrier to causethe mail to be engaged by the selectively operated markers when the mailcarrier is operated.

GEORGE A. AMMANN.

